The Home Front During WWI

Selective Service Act of 1917

Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft

Liberty Bonds

American citizens were lending money to the government to pay for the war.

War Industries Board

Government agency established to coordinate the purchase of war supplies during World War I, example of war socialism, made by Bernard Baruch

War Labor Board

Acted as a supreme court for labor cases. Did more harm than good when it tried to limit wages, which led to strikes.

Espionage Act/Sedition Act/Trading-with-the-Enemies Act

to crack down on wartime activities considered dangerous or disloyal, including attempts to acquire defense-related information with the intent to harm the United States, or acquire code and signal books, photographs, blueprints, and other such documents with the intention of passing (1917)

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

Founded in 1905, this radical union, also known as the Wobblies aimed to unite the American working class into one union to promote labor's interests. It worked to organize unskilled and foreign-born laborers, advocated social revolution, and led several major strikes. Stressed solidarity.

Red Scare (1919)

Fear and panic by the Americans over communism that was spurred by Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

Palmer Raids

A 1920 operation coordinated by Attorney General Mitchel Palmer in which federal marshals raided the homes of suspected radicals and the headquarters of radical organization in 32 cities

Wall Street Bombing

bombing in 1920 in front of offices of J.P Morgan. attack on capitalism (1920)

American Protective League (APL)

An organization of private citizens that cooperated with the Justice Department and the Bureau of Investigation during WWI to spy on German residents suspected of disloyal behavior. (1917-1919)

Harlem Hellfighters (Rattlers)

black regiment

Red Summer (1919)

Used to describe the bloody race riots that occurred during the summer and autumn of 1919. Race riots erupted in several cities in both the North and South of the United States.